Deep-well apparatus



May 21, 1929- C. A. JoHNsToN ET AL DEEP WELL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 3, 1926 EJKJ 01111510 n.

. T. I M a rirt Gnoien, 3

Patented May 21, 1929.

.UNITED STATES PATENT o 1,713,604 F'FICE.

l i CHARLES A. JOHNSTON, OF PERRY, AND JOHN I. MARTIN, OF ENID, OKLAHOMA.

DEEP-WELL APPARATUS.

Application led August 3, 1926. Serial No. 126,847.

Our invention is an apparatus for moving liquid from a deep well by the action of fluid pressure. The invention is designed more Vparticularly for use in oil-producing wells but it is, of course, adaptable for use in other wells. An object of the invention is to provide a. simple, inexpensive and efficient apparatus whereby a fluid underpressure will be caused to drive from a well the liquid collecting therein, and another object of the invention is to provide a structure whereby normally the liquid will be prevented from draining from the apparatus but may bepermitted to drain therefrom if it should be necessary to remove the apparatus from the well.` Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the stated type by the use of which agitation of sand and other foreign matter at the bottom of the well will be avoided so that-the liquid drawn from the well will be clear and substantially free of foreign matter. These stated objects, and other objects which will incidentally appear in the course of the following description, are attained in such an apparatus as is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and the invention resides in certain novel Ji'eatures which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the` drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates the usual Well casing equipped with a head 2 and an outlet 3 at its upper en'd, the said outlet being connected to a pipe line for conveying the liquid to a suitable place of storage. 4 designates the tubing which has its upper end swlveled in a coupling 5 whereby it is connected with a pipe 6 equipped with a cut-ofi' valve 7 and leadin from an air compressor or other source of uid pressure supply. This tubing 4 extends through the head 2 and down within the casing 1 concentrically. therewith, the lower end of the tubing being open, as shown in Fig. 1. At a .suitable point above the lower end of the tubing 4, a tubular head 8 is secured thereto b welding or otherwise so that a ti ht dura le connection will be effected, t 's head being tapered in its upper end portion and being provided .with outlet openings 9 immediately adjacent its upper end portion. To the lower wider end of the head 8, a tube 10 is secured by a coupling collar 11 and the lower end of this tube 10 is reduced, as shown at 12, to be coupled to 13 of smaller diameter. The pipe 13 extends to a point near the bottom of the well and is equipped near its lower extremity with a. check valve 14 of any well-known form. The exterior ofthe pipe 13 is smooth except at its lower extremity and a sleeve 15 encircles the said pipe, a packer 16 being carried by the said sleeve near the upper end thereof and adapted to bear against the inner circumference of the casing 1 whereby fiow through the casing between the sleeve and the casing will be prevented. Near the lower end ofthe sleeve l5, a port 17 is formed therethrough and a similar port 18 is formed through the pipe 13 in the horizontal yplane of the port 17. Within the tube 10 and between the same and the tubing 4 is a pipe 19 having its upper end open and its lower end closed, as clearly shown. This pipe 19 is held in spaced relation to the tubing 4 and the tube 10 by attac-hing lugs or straps 20 which are secured to the said pipe and the tube .10 near the upper ends thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

lhen the apparatus is lowered in the well, the liquid which has collcctedin the well will rise through the pipe 13 and the tubing 1() and pass out through the openings ,9 and collect within the casing 1 abovethe packer 16. The valve 7 is then opened so that the pressure fluid will flow through the pipe 6 into the tubing 4 and esca-pe from the lower end of the tubing within the pipe 19, the latter pipe forming, in effect, an air chamber. The pressure fluid will, of course, rise within the pipe 419 and escape through the upper end thereof around the tubing 4 and force the liquid out of the casing 1 through the outlet 3. The discharged liquid will be replaced by liquid flowing from the well through the pipe 13 and this additional infiowing liquid will, of course, be, in turn, acted upon by the pressure fluid so that a constant circulation of li uid and compressed air or other pressure uid will be set up and the liquid from the well will be delivered in a, steady stream through the outlet 3.

Normally the port 18 is out of alinement with the ort 17 so that both ports are closed and the iquid from the well cannot escape the upper end of a pipe thence to the point of storage. Should it be necessary, however, to remove the appayratus fromv the Well for repairs or Jfor any other reason, the tubing 4 is given a quarter turn and inasmuch as the tubing 10 and the pipe 13 are firmly secured to the tubing 4 and carried by it, the pipe 13 will be likewise rotated so that the ports 18 and 17 will be caused to register and the liquid may then cscape through the ports and retu'rn to the well. The pipe 13 may rotate within the sleeve 15 when a turning forceis applied to the tubing 4 as described, but the frietional engagement 'between the pipe 13 and the sleeve 15 will be sufficient toy prevent accidental or premature relative axial movement of the part-s. Consequently, when the tubing 4 and the-parts carried thereby are lifted, the pipe 13 and the sleeve* 15 will also be drawn upwardly through the casing 1 and any liquid which may happen to be within the tube 10 will be permitted to drain out through the register'- ing ports. The pipe 13 is expanded and internally threaded at its upper end to be sccured around the lower end of the pipe 10 while the lower extremity ot the pipe 13 is externally threaded with the threads lying entirely within its outer circumference. The

packer 16 is ot rubber or other material usually employed for the purpose and is secured on the sleeve 15 by any preferred means, being shown as held by and between two clamping collars whereby it may be axially compressed and thereby radially expanded so as to fit snugly within the casing. The packer obtains a strong binding grip on the casing so that when removal is desired it is frequently necessary to iirst lower the entire apparatus in the casing in order to loosen the packer. The sleeve 15 and the packer having been assembled, the sleeve is pushed upwardly over the lower end of the pipe 13 into its proper position and will it closely on the pipe but may have a very slight play. The check valve 14 is then screwed onto the lower end of the pipe 13 and its upperv end will abut the lower end of the sleeve 15 so that when the tubing is lifted, the sleeve must come up therewith.

Our improved device is very simple in its construction and arrangement and will operate in a highly eliicient manner in use. The liquid will be drawn from the well in a steady continuous stream and agitation ot the sand and clay or other matters at the bottom of the well will be avoided inasmuch as the liquidpropelling force is applied to the liquid at a point above ,thebottom of the well and, therefore, does not reach the bed of the liquid.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

.A deep well apparatus comprising a tube for fluid pressure extending downwardly within the well casing concentric therewith and having an open lower end, a tubular head having its upper end encircling and intimately united with the tube through the entire circumferentialextent thereof at an in termediate point inthe length ofthetube, said head being provided with restricted outlet openings adjacent its upper end, a tube secured to the lower end of said head and disposed concentric with the Huid pressure tube and around the same, a pipe carried by the lower end of the said tube and equipped at its "lower end wit-h a valve to permit flow into the tube and prevent outflow therefrom, an intermediate pipe; disposed coneentrically within said tube and around the fluid pressure tube, said pipe having its upper end open and below the head and its lower end closed and located below the lower end of the tiuid pressure tube, and spaced connections between the pipe and the second-mentioned tube whereby the-pipe will be maintained in spaced relation to said tube and the fluid pressuretube.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

CHARMESv A. JOHNSTON. [L s.) JOHN i. MARTIN. [L a] 

